13 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH05 Boxster: replaced key fob shell, all buttons work, car does not start - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Leading reported evidence
Replace 2032 battery
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
I tried what anyone would--replacing the 2032 battery.
05 Boxster: replaced key fob shell, all buttons work, car does not start - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Read full discussion summary
Leading evidence: 'Replace 2032 battery' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace 2032 battery' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
The key fob guts are exactly the same; worked before the change; and after replacing the shell the buttons all work exactly as expected and the light lights like it always did when unlocking/locking the car.
05 Boxster: replaced key fob shell, all buttons work, car does not start - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Replace key fob not thinking anything of it
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
After reassembling the one without tape a few times I decided to just replace the key fob not thinking anything of it.
05 Boxster: replaced key fob shell, all buttons work, car does not start - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Use key and the car fired up
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
I took the piece out to the car and held it really close to the keyhole while using the key and the car fired up!
05 Boxster: replaced key fob shell, all buttons work, car does not start - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Replace ;
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
The key fob guts are exactly the same; worked before the change; and after replacing the shell the buttons all work exactly as expected and the light lights like it always did when unlocking/locking the car.
05 Boxster: replaced key fob shell, all buttons work, car does not start - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Coverage and how to read this overview
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
13 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
986Forum: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
3 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
I also tried to flip the battery polarity for a few seconds and then flipped it back and it did not work.
So I had one key held together by tape from previous owner and one that came apart very easily. After reassembling the one without tape a few times I decided to just replace the key fob not thinking anything of it. I’ve since found it brings many unpleasant scenarios of not working right. Unfortunately I did both keys at the same time thinking it would be a great improvement.
The key fob guts are exactly the same; worked before the change; and after replacing the shell the buttons all work exactly as expected and the light lights like it always did when unlocking/locking the car. When I try to start the engine nothing happens.
I searched and found a few things I tried but I think they were all from slightly earlier models.
1. Put key in drivers door, turn left, turn right, remove, press a button. Didn’t work.
2. Put key in ignition turn left to accessories, hold down the hazard light button. Didn’t work.
3. Tried #2 with key turned to on (right) Didn’t work.
4. Tried #2 while holding down central key lock button instead of hazard. Didn’t work
I’m hoping that since the buttons all work that I’m just missing a step here and someone can help me out. Any ideas?
Verify that you have the transponders in each key fob. No pill, no start.
Germany made transponders mandatory Jan 1998. The rest of Europe fell in line shortly. I believe the insurance companies championed the cause to cut down on theft/losses.
Thank you for the info! The fob housing is a bit different from the one in the image but I get the idea. I’ll go back and see if I missed this pill in the old housing.
That was it! There was a small plastic rectangle in one of the moldings. I took the piece out to the car and held it really close to the keyhole while using the key and the car fired up! Really appreciate the info guys!
I was able to get a spare key made locally (ekeys4cars, North Andover) for $100, and while it didn't have the electronics, it did have the pill to start the car......
Call around, and make sure you let them know the year. It seems they couldn't make a key for newer than 986's......
-Eric
99 986
Follow up for those who don't know; the key blade can be had from multiple places. The transponder 'pill' needs to be coded into the car's memory with a PWIS. Typically only available at a dealer. This can't be done with a Durametric. That is what drives the price accordingly.
I took some time to retrieve the pill from the old key housing, for me it was only removable by
carefully
clipping away the plastic housing around it. I included a few pics of the pill and where it went in the replacement housing.
Thank you. this thread saved me an expensive 40 mile tow to the nearest Porsche dealer plus a new fob and dealer pricing. I didn't know about the transponder. I just received the car yesterday via truck shipping and the buttons did not work. I tried what anyone would--replacing the 2032 battery. The fob was in rough condition so I wasn't expecting it to work but worth a try. When I split it open, a little piece of "plastic" fell out. I assumed it was from breakage. After that, no start--actually the car panicked. 2 hours later, finding this wonderful thread, I fished the little piece of plastic out of the trash, re-inserted it into the fob, and the car instantly responded. WHEW! I need a new fob for the buttons but at least I have the transponder. This forum just saved me $500.
